Collapsible crate.



A. J. & W. H. BODKBR.

GOLLAPSIBLE CRATE. 7 APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. 1913.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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A. J. & W. H. BODKER.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE. APrLmATIon FILED JULY 10, 1913.

Patented Jan. 5, I915.

@5 ZAAZZMW HE NORRIS PETERS (20., PHOTO-LITHn. WASHINGTON, n4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT J. BODKER AND WILLIAM H. BOIDKER, OF PONCHATOULA, LOUISIANA.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Application filed July 10, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ALBERT J. BODKER and WILLIAM H. BoDKER, citizens of the United States, residing at Ponchatoula, in

the parish of Tangipahoa and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in'collapsible crates, boxes, and the like employed for shipping various commodities or products, and adapted to be collapsed into relatively small space for shipment or storage, and has for one of its objects to improve the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device which may be collapsed or folded into relatively small space and the members locked in folded position and without detaching any of the parts.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved foldable crate in open position and viewed from the front. Fig. 2 is a view of the improved device in folded position and viewed from the front. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation with the parts in open position. Fig. 4 is a transverse section with the parts in open position. Figs. 567 are perspective details of the combined guide and holding plates.

Corresponding and like parts are re ferred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved box or crate may be constructed of any suitable material and of any suitable size and employed for holding different products and commodities, but is preferably constructed of a plurality of frames forming the bottom, sides, ends and top of the device and with linings of thinner material, and for the purpose of illustration the device is shown thus constructed. The bottom consists of a frame 10 having an inserted lining 11, a rear frame 12 likewise formed with a lining 13,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Serial No. 778,352.

a front comprising a frame 14 and lining 15, an end frame 16 having a lining 17, another end frame 18 having a lining l9, and a top frame 20 having a lining 21. The various lining members are {prefer ably of thin material and in narrow strips, as shown. Attached to the bottom frame 10 at its rear corners are supporting plates 22-23, the plate 22 being provided with a relatively long closed slot 24, while the plate 23 is provided with a similar closed slot 25. Formed in the upper edge of the plate 22 is a bayonet slot 26, while a similar bayonet slot 27 is formed in the upper edge of the plate 23. Attached to the bottom frame 10 at its forward corners are plates 56 l1, the plate 56 having a longitudinal slot 28, while a similar slot 29 is formed in the plate 41.

The slots 2829 are spaced above the upper face of the bottom 10 a distance equal to the combined thicknesses of the ends and front, while the slots 2l25 are spaced above the upper face of the bottom 10 a distance equal to the combined thicknesses of the ends, front and back, the object to be hereafter explained.

Attached to the ends of the frame 12 of the rear member are plates 3031, the plate 30 having an open slot 32, while the plate 31 is provided with a similar open slot 33. The plates 3031 are L-shaped and extend over the outer face of the frame 12 and are provided respectively with hinge members 34.3-5. The frame 12 is likewise provided with outwardly directed pins 3637 adapted to extend through the slots 24-25.

Attached to the bottom frame 10 at one end is a cleat 37 to which the end frame 16 is hingedly united at 38,while the end frame 18 is hingedly united at 39 to the bottom frame 10 at its opposite end. The en d frame 18 thus folds inwardly upon the bottom 10, while the end frame 16 folds in- .wardly over the folded end frame 18, the

cleat 37 spacing the end frame 16 a sufiicient distance away from the bottom 10 to permit the frames 1.618 to lie in parallel relations when folded. When in open position the frames l618 bear against the inner faces of the plates 22 23 and 56-41', and are supported thereby and likewise limited in their outward movement.

The end frames 16 and 18 are each provided with an upwardly directed stop plate,

one of which is shown at 40. The front frame 14 of the device is provided with clips 42-43 at their upper edges which project above the upper edge of the frame 14, and extending from the frame near the lower edge are pins, one of which is shown at 1 44, which extend through the slots 2829.

The top frame 20 is provided with plates 45- -46having hinge members 4748 which engage with the hinge members 3435 of the back. The top frame 20 is likewise provided with outwardly directed pins 4950 adapted to enter the bayonet slots 2627, as hereafter explained. 7

With a device thus constructed the improved device is assembled by uniting the hinge members 3435 to the hinge members 4748, thus hingedly uniting the top frame 20 to the rear frame 12. The pins 36-37 of the rear frame 12 are engaged through the slots 2425, while the pins 44 of the front frame are engaged through the slots 28-29. To collapse the improved device the top frame 20-21 is loosened and slightly raised to clear the plates 40 and the end frame 18 folded inwardly upon the bottom 10 and the end frame 16 folded inwardly upon the folded end frame 18. The front frame 1415 is then folded inwardly upon the folded end frame 1617, this movement locating the pins 44 at the outer ends of the slots 28-29, and the front frame 14-15 is then moved bodily inward toward the rear, the slots 28-29 permitting this movement. The top is then folded upon the outer face of the rear and the combined back and top folded inwardly upon the folded front. This movement will locate the pins 3637 at the outer ends of the slots 2425. Thecombined back and top is then moved bodily inward toward the front of the device, the slots 2425 permitting this movement. As the back is thus moved inwardly the plates =3031 pass between the plates 56+41 and the ends of the front with the v slots 3233 passing over the pins 44 and .thus effectually locking the back to the front and preventing its vertical displacement. At the same time that the back is thus moved forward to produce the look through the action of the slots 3233, the top will be elevated to a sufficient extent to permit the pins 49-50 to enter the bayonet slots 26 -27 and thus likewise effectually lock the top in position. Attached to the upper member ofthe front frame 14 is a jointed hasp 51 having a slot 52, while the front member top frame 20 is provided with a turn button 53 over which the slot 52 passes when the ,hasp is folded down over the top and thus provides a simply constructed fastening ,device' whereby, the top, may be locked in relation to the front vwhen the crate is to be used in open position.

To dispose the crate in open position the top frame 20 together with the rear frame 12 is moved rearwardly to dispose the pins 4950 in position to be released from the bayonet slots 2627. The top is then elevated to release the pins 49-50 and the rearward movement continued until the slots 3233 are free from the pins 44. The rear ward movement is continued until the pins 36-37 are at the rear ends of the slots 2425, when the rear can be disposed in vertical position with its lower edge resting upon the upper rear face of the bottom 10. The front is then moved forwardly until the pins 44 are located at theouter ends of the slots, 28-29 when the front can be elevated into vertical position with its lower edge bearing upon the upper face of the bottom. The end frame 16 is then elevated into vertical position and bearing by its upper portion against the inner face of the,

firmly hold the parts from displacement.

The hasp member 51 and its button 53 are then united to hold the top firmly fixed in position, The end frames 1618 include intermediate rails, one of which is represented at 54, and connected into this rail is a loop 55 to form clips to assist in handling the device, and likewise to assist in elevating the ends into vertical position.

is claimed as new is: v v

1. A crate comprising a bottom member, plates arranged in pairs at front and rear and attached to the corner portions of the bottom member and extending above the same, each plate having a closed slot extending in parallel relation to the plane of the bottom member and spaced above the same and each rear plate having an upwardly opening bayonet slot, a front member having pins extending respectively through the closed slots of one pair of said plates, :3; rear memios Having thus described the invention, what ber having pins extending through V the closed slots of the other pair of saidplates,

end membershingedly connectedto the bottom member and foldable inwardlyand between the front and rear members and a s er a es wh n n p P9 iti0m cornervplates connected to the front member and i i's vs i h be in plates connected to the {end ex- 'iso tending above the same, a top member hingedly connected to the rear member and bearing upon the upper edges of the front and rear members and the end members and behind the corner plates and the bearing plates, and pins projecting from the top member and engaging said bayonet slots when the members are in folded position.

2. A crate comprising a bottom member, plates arranged in pairs at front and rear and attached to the corner portions of the bottom member and extending above the same, each plate having a closed slot extending in parallel relation to the plane of the bottom member and spaced above the same and each rear plate having an upwardly opening bayonet slot, a front member having pins extending respectively through the closed slots of one pair of said plates, a rear member having pins extending through the closed slots of the other pair of said plates, end members hingedly connected to the bottom member and foldable inwardly and bearing between the front and rear members and against the plates when in open position, corner plates connected to the front member and extending above the same, corner plates connected to the rear member and extending above the same and provided respectively with open vertical slots, a top member hingedly connected to the rear member and bearing upon the edges of the front and rear members and the end members and behind the corner plates, pins projecting from the top member, said last-mentioned pins engaging said bayonet slots and Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the pins extending from the top for engaging in the bayonet slots.

4-. A crate comprising a bottom'member, a front member a rear member and end members movably connected to the bottom member and foldable inwardly, plates connected to the bottom member at the rear and extending above the same and having longitudinally extending closed slots, pins extending from the front and rear members and operating respectively through the slots, and corner plates connected to the rear member and having open slots, said open slots engaging over the pins of the front member when the members are in closed position.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT J. BODKER. WILLIAM H. BODKER. LS1

WVitnesses PETER KEEHN, M. S. HARRISS.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

